Photographer's Note

The cruise on which I was giving lectures was the Crystal Symphony, anchored about half-a-kilometer from St. Peter Port on the Guernsey Island. Indeed, it was low tide and made sense to take a local tender into the port. There in dock was the Victor Hugo, a catamaran that makes round-trip crossings from Normandy, just an hour away.

The picturesque Island of Guernsey, although geographically closer to France, has been staunchly British through the ages. Its diverse culture, however, reflects the best of both countries. Pastel-colored houses rise layer upon layer behind St. Peter Port, the island's picturesque main town, where goldsmiths, silversmiths, wood carvers and clockmakers feature their ware.

A favorite son of Guernsey, Victor Hugo, French author and poet, spent 15 years in exile in St. Peter Port. It was there that he wrote his masterpiece, "Les Misérables" (1862). Although he is known to the world as a surpassing writer, he prided himself more with his passion for interior and landscape design, embodied in his home, Hauteville House. Although he is one of my favorite authors, I will not augment this post with an excerpt from Victor Hugo's novel, Les Misérables. Rather here is a three-minute piece from the musical in which 17 Different Jean Valjeans take the stage to sing "Do you hear the people sing? If you have a few minutes to listen, I believe this will be a magnificent experience for you. They sing in English, French, Swedish, Hungarian, German, Japanese, Polish, Dutch, Norwegian, Czech, Danish, Icelandic... a virtual Olympic Games of Lés Misérables.

In an accompanying workshop, I am posting a photo of the front gate of the home. For the main photo on Trekearth, we are not allowed to show friends or family, but in the workshop, where I present an image of the front entrance, my wife managed "to get" in the way, so to speak. Finally, I would like to dedicate this photo to my good friend, Malgorzata Kopczynska, one of the most talented photographer-physicists I know.

Hello Bulent,
Marvelous sight of the catamaran boat stern, beautifully shining colors - especially the blue, and a bright glow over wate4r.
Name of the boat was a nice gesture to the known author and story fits well.
Best regards,
Ike

Hi Bulent,i seen the Hugo house in Cuba in November and it's nice to see something of different dedicate to this great man. Beautiful capture of the ship and port too of this channel island very famous,a rich composition sharp and bright as always,i like it! Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

A lovely combination Dear Bulent giving lectures and maybe enjoy of the trip of the cruise.
Your picture cares for nice detail of the boat.
An excellent captured and lovely presentation too.
Very well done, TFS.

Hello Bulent,
The ferry adds some much needed, brighter colours to the grey background of the harbour. The blue and green go really well together in this fine sunlight and the reflections in the small rippled of the water look also very attractive. Excellent inclusion and very good idea to include only half of the ship.
Lars

The light is remarkable, in your photograph, creating exquisite shimmering reflections in the water and also, creating a fine range of blue hues on the boat.
I love your close crop. It tells us all we need to know about the boat and its situation, in a fine composition.

Hello Bulent, I do not know what has happened. I remember I wrote the critique and it disappeared. Or maybe I haven't saved it? Thank you very much for a nice dedication. Haha, talented photographer- physicist, you are very kind.
I also have dedicated the series of three pictures to you ;). Nice view of this big vessel, but i prefer the Workshop picture with Carol jean posing near Victor Hugo lovely house. I saw the Hugo; hause in the Place de Vosges in Paris.
Warm regards to CJ and you

Hi Bulent,
Excellent sidelight shows details of that catamaran well and reflections on the water look very nice too. Those tall poles tell well how big tidal variations are over there. Guernsey is a lovely island, I hope I go there again some day.
Kari